Cup date ‘massive’ for Bucks

AFC Telford United are off to Wembley for an FA Cup showdown with Hendon, with boss Rob Smith declaring: “This is your chance – now take it!”

Tomorrow’s third round qualifying round tie is being played at Wembley FC’s Vale Farm ground because Hendon have been evicted from their own home.

The winners will be just one game away from a place in the first round proper when the League One and Two sides enter the competition.

That would be uncharted territory for the Bucks, who before this season had won just one FA Cup game since reforming in 2004.

“There’s a real buzz in the camp about tomorrow,” said Smith, whose side beat Corby 3-2 in the last round a fortnight ago to set up tomorrow’s clash.

“It’s a massive game for all of us, and who knows who we might get if we can get through.

“We’ve got to make sure we go there and do a professional job – it really is a case of getting in there and getting the job done as far as I’m concerned.

“We haven’t had a decent cup run and this is our chance. We want to make the most of it.”

Smith and assistant Larry Chambers travelled to London to see Hendon beat Dulwich Hamlet 2-1 in a second qualifying round replay.

And he also sent a scout to take a second look last weekend in order to finalise their preparations.

“We had them watched against Tooting last Saturday,” said Smith. “They lost 1-0 but Tooting are right up there at the top so it wasn’t a bad result.

“We know what we need to do and if we perform anywhere near our best we’ll get through, but we won’t be taking anything for granted.”

Smith hopes to have skipper Stuart Whitehead back in the fold, the centre-back having sat out of last week’s 0-0 draw with Workington and the 2-1 win over Solihull Moors in the Setanta Shield.

Jimmy Turner is likely to be named on the bench as Carl Rodgers is ruled out by a groin injury.

By CHRIS HUDSON